Plant

PULMONARIA

or Lungwort

The red-blue beacon of early spring

The delicate shade-loving lungwort or Pulmonaria isn’t the most vociferous of plants, it announces itself in February and March then hunkers down as taller colleagues take over the stage.

Pictured: Pulmonaria Diana Clare

Colours

Mainly blue or red; white and pink

Height; spread

10-20 cm tall; 50 cm spread

Conditions

Moist loam or in woodland

Sun or shade

Full shade or partial shade

Flowers

March to April

Propagation

By seed or division

Reasons to grow...

    1. Adds colour and interest when there’s little else around
    2. Variety of colours: purple, blue, red, pink and white
    3. New varieties have striking patterned foliage: delicate spotted leaves or strappy explosions of pale chalky green
    4. Easy to propagate and build up large clumps
    5. Largely pest free

      Watch out for
      Can be bullied by more robust plants and crowded out

Garden Rooms

Back Terrace
An ever-present in these beds with Blue Ensign a favourite and patches of Diana Clare.
The White Garden
The spotty-leaved Sissinghurst White is starting to establish

Top Varieties

Blue Ensign – a delicate blue beauty.
Sissinghurst White (pictured) – quaintly spotted.
Diana Clare – one of the varieties that is also grown for its strappy chalky green foliage

We started with the commonest form whose colours start reddish, wander purple and end up blue. Lately new varieties have become popular with striking strappy leaves